An experienced TV weatherman has sued CBS broadcasting for sex and age discrimination claiming his job applications were ignored purely because he isn't a 20-something and female.

Hunter, who has been a weatherman for Fox5 in San Diego, sued the broadcasting giant in Los Angeles last week.

However CBS claims Kyle Hunter's complaint is frivolous and based on gross misstatements of fact and say they will vigorously defend themselves in court.

Hunter argues that his gender and age kept him from getting on-air weather jobs at CBS stations KCBS and KCAL despite his meteorology degree and years of experience.

According to the lawsuit, Hunter, who is over the age of 40, is seeking 'unspecified' damages.

He alleges that the CBS stations favour young, attractive women to induce more men to watch their prime-time newscasts.

His lawyer Gloria Allred, who has represented the Family of OJ Simpson's murdered wife, Tiger Woods and Hermann Cain, says it is one of the first times a man has tried to claim unfair discrimination under California employment law on the basis of gender.

Mr Hunter, who is a fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society and has worked for several Southern Californian TV stations, says he was passed over for two jobs in favour of women with no meteorological qualifications.

The lawsuit reads: 'It appears the defendants do not want knowledgeable weather professionals as their prime-time weather broadcasters.

'It appears instead that they only want attractive young women, and only attractive young women, broadcasting the weather.'

Hunter says he was not interviewed for either of the jobs which he applied for in 2010 and 2011.

A spokesman for CBS said: 'The complain is frivolous and based on misstatements of fact.

'There was no need for the stations to interview someone we were already well aware of.

'The forecast calls for a vigorous defence by CBS and an early dismissal of the complaint.'